Emergency Romance – ER 3

"Hey, Dr Wu, look who is here again?" said a nurse who spotted Keith as he pushed a gurney through the door. Susie turned to take a peek from her room. Her colleagues in her department had been making fun her since the 'hugging' incident. They claimed that Keith must have fallen for her to have embraced her so tightly. And somehow, Susie didn't seem to mind the teasing at all as if silently admitting her liking for Keith. In fact, she wanted to have a chance to chat with him but only if he would give her the opportunity.

Keith, on the other hand, had been trying to avoid Susie since that day. Not so much that he disliked her, but he was just too embarrassed to face her. He would avoid having any eye contact with her and would leave as soon as he was done with whatever he was supposed to do. Actually he would want to have a chance to explain why he did what he did to her but somehow he found it difficult to speak up. He had never been good with words, especially in front women. He would be so tongue-tied that his words just wouldn't come out of his mouth.

As fate would have it, the conversation that they had hoped to have, took place sooner than they were prepared for.

It was a slow afternoon when Keith wheeled in an old lady, who had fallen off a flight of steps, into the A & E room. Susie who was the doctor on duty rushed to attend to the victim. Keith described the lady's conditions to Susie so as to help her to arrive at a diagnosis quickly. His description was in such details that Susie was able to stop the internal bleeding in time to save the lady's life. She was so impressed by it that she praised Keith for his superb observation skill. It was then that Keith realised that he had been talking to Susie, the very person he had been too ashamed to speak to. He had actually dissolved the awkward situation between them unintentionally and he didn't even stumble in his speech.

Since then, both of them would acknowledge each other whenever they bumped into each other. Occasionally, they would engage in short, casual conversations when the situation allowed. However, Keith would always confine his chat to topics related to work and nothing personal. Though, Susie wanted very much to know more about his personal life, she kept telling herself not to rush into things, especially when she wasn’t sure of Keith's feeling for her. What if he only sees her as an ordinary friend? Or worse still, just as another medical worker? She wouldn't want to risk embarrassing herself in front of him.

As time passed, Keith felt more at ease with Susie and was chatting and laughing more freely in her presence, much to the delight of Susie. Soon they started dating, not as a couple but as a group. Keith would bring along a male friend to meet Susie's female companion. Though Susie would prefer otherwise, she understood that Keith wasn't comfortable with single date so she would play along and tried to enjoy herself. However, deep in her heart, she longed for some private moments with him. Should she take the initiative to arrange for one? Should she tell him of her feeling for him? Should she ................................................